Automatic return system for boilers



June 2, 1925.

lFle NOV. 17. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet ,1

421 ATTORNEY June 2, 1925. 1,539,8834

J. R. SWANSON AUTGMATIC RETURN SYSTEM FOR BOILERS Fi'led Nov. 17, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

lg INVENTOR. ,mi/mu WNL @mank/MM,

4b ATTORNEY.

Fatented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,539,883 PATENT oFFicE. i

JOHN R. SWANSON, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS. i

AUTOMATIC RETURN SYSTEM FOR BOILERS.

Application filed November To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jol-IN R. SwANsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Return Systems for Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to an automatic return system for boilers, by the operation of which water which has been converted into steam and expelled from the boiler, is returned thereto in a heated state after the steam has passed through the condensing process. It is more specially adapted for use with a plant in connection with which a system of radiators is employed, but various other uses and adaptations thereof may be made.

One of the purposes of the invention is to do away with the present method of returning the water through a steam trap, controlled by means of a float, which arrangement is not satisfactory, on account of the bearings being subject to leakage, and upon bein(r tightened are liable to bind and not work properly.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a mechanism in which the parts will work freely, without friction, and in which a minimum amount of repairs is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which will work uninterruptedly. and without attention, under a comparatively low degree of pressure, such as is usually contained in a steam heating` system. As a result the water is maintained in the boiler at a uniform height, and there is a consequent saving in the use of fuel.

Another feature of the invention consists in connecting the same with the blow-outl Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the tank system of the invention, with one of the tanks shown in vertical section.

Fig. 2 shows the steam chest 14V and appurtenant mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the steam chest. l

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3. i 'l In Fig. 1`is shown a pair of enclosed tanks l and 2, connected at their upper ends by a bridge 3, such tanks being designed to be supported conveniently to a boiler, and a little above the water line therein. At its lower end the tank 1 is fitted with a. pipe 4,' connected with a pipe 5, which leads to the source of watery supply. The pipe 5 is provided with a check-valve, as at 5a, which prevents the return of the Water through such pipe. The tank 2 is similarly provided with a pipe 6, communicating with the water supplythrough a pipe 7, fitted with a check-valve at 7a, preventing return of the water through the pipe 7 The pipes 4 and 6 are united by a pipe 8, from a central point of which connection is made through a pipe 9 with the boiler, below the water line thereof. Check-valves in the pipe 8 at 10 and 11 prevent movement of the water from the pipe 8 into the pipes 4 or 6.

At their upper ends the tanks 1 and 2 are fitted with pipes 12 and 13, in communication with a steam-chest 14, mounted for convenience at a point a little above the tanks. The body portion of the steam chest is supplied at all times with a charge of steam, under pressure, by means of a pipe 15, communicating with the `boiler at a point abovethe water line. From the steamchest the tanks 1 and 2 are provided with alternate charges of steam, in "the manner hereinafter described. In opposite ends of the steam-chest are piston heads 16 and 17, united by a hollow rod 18, fitted at its ends with circular flanges 19, through which connection is made with the piston-heads, leaving spaces 20 in said heads.

The flanges 19 are provided with openings 19, permitting the passage of the steam into the spaces 20, and the pistons 16 and17 are provided with central openings through which the steam can pass into the ends of the steam-chest. These openings are adapted to be alternately closed by means .of valves 2101i the ends of a stem 22 sldable lWa-rdlthe otherend off-the cylinder,y but this in the rod 18. The valves are provided With exten-sions 23, projected outwardly Lin the openings in the piston heads, and provided with central openings 24, radiatingfrom'the inner end of which are passages 25. Vhen either valve 21Yis atits inner position, `as shown in the piston-head 16, the steam is permitted to pass through the :openings and 24 into the end ofthe steam-chest. This has ltendency to iforcethe 'pistondieads tois prevented by a cushion of steam between the piston 3157 and end o' the-steamphest. Y

This pressure can be relievedv through a vent 26, --at the outer `endofwhich is a -valve chambei127, having an opening normally closed by a lvalve'onfthestein 28. ,'{Upon the valve being opened the pi'essui'einithesteam n chesty above the 1 same :is relieved, I'and the )istonl'tiavels toward that end of theicylin- 4Viler. The projecting iend Aof the :part 23 coniesincontact with the end of the cylin- 'der,-opening the 4valve 21 adjaeeiittliereto, ariel-closingv the valve n 21 at the opposite end 25 Iof 'fthe 1 steam-chest.

i on the va`lve-steins28. Mountedfcentrallyofv 3()V I"The `valves inithe chambers 27 are altei- 'nately opened, by Imeans lhereinafter vset lortli,1andareclosed ley-means of springs 29 tliebridge'f is fsuppoi't 30, on which =is roekingly-'supported an arm 31, provided at 'its' ends with` seginentsl32, Lto which are i fixed cords 33, sof asA tooperate onf the faces thereof. @Said coi'dsjpassdownwardly through Vperr forfated plugs 34iandto fthe lowere'nds'of `saideords are' Vfixed wveiglits, onlyloiie of which isShOWn. 'lilxtendingupwardly from 5' a centiul poiiitofthefarin 31is a rod '36,

to the side of the VAsteaiii-cliest.

lilavingeJ piniand sloticonnection with an arm 87, loosely mounted on a shaft 38,1ixed 'A-dis'k 39 Iis alsoloosely-supported'onitlie shaft 88,:'and -is provided on its-outer vface with pinsf40 lvand k41, `adapted 'for engagement with lfiietclied arms 42, pivote'd at their lower ends tofbra'ekets 43 supported from the sides of the steam-chest. `fFixed 1in the periphery-:of

'-tlied-isk39 isa weighted arm/14. The inner `V ends ofl thevalve-rods 28 are connected ywith the armsy 42,1abovelthefpivotallpoints of such y arms. As the-arm 31 `is yrocked thearm 37 `is swung `in one direction 1 or 'the other, such arm coming-iii Contact witlione of the pins @40. and 41, causing a partial Irotation of ethe disk. This raises the -aim44 luntil it passes Aa 7vei'tiealpoint, whereupon the weighton such arm carriesthe same quickly downwardly, ibringing `the pin into engagement withgthe notchinonelof lthelarms 42, and moving such `arm suiiiciently to open the ,valvein tlie' chamber 27 l:adjacent thereto.

lCentrally-of fthe steam-chest is an eX- f-haustpipej45ybetween the outlets lof the pipes 12` and l13, and capable of alternate -eominunioationfwith:said 2pipes :by means 0f a slidewalve 46, movable vwith the rod 18, by means offflanges 47 Aon saidrod. In the r4lower .face of the valve 46 isa recess 48, of

sulicient size to embrace the opening to the pipe 45 and that of one of the pipes 12 and .l3nt atime. Y

The apparatus is shown in the drawings inapositioniin which the tank 2 will be assumed to be filled with Water, which has been forced intotlievsameiundera moderate pressure of approximatelyilive pounds. The

A"tank 1 lbeing empty, the supporting quality of'theY water in =tlie ltank 2 has tended -to raise =the vweight therein, enabling the lsimilar \weightinthetank 1 toirock the arm 31 toward the left,causing a shifting of the steam-chest mechanism into =the 'position shown in Fig. 3. yv'llliis admits the :steam tlirouglithe ypipe 13 to the tank 2, forcing Fthe vWater downwardly out of the.saiiie,.and

filled -With v`Water, the vdiskI 39gsuddenlyeoiiipletes its movement, land-:the vent at the right-hand end of thesteamfehest is opened,

permitting a-shiftingof the piston in Athat direction. This operation is-kept upfintei'- mitteiitly, yat intervals ofaapproximately one minute, several lgallons of water being injeetediinto the boiler at each loperation ofthe j tanks. y

Thepiessuieof the steam tliatiente'rs the tanks 1 aand 2fi'om1above is intenselygreater tliantliatlby n'ieansoiavliich the water is V"forced'into' the tunks,as a result of which, ywhen the steam iispeivniitted `to enter the 'tanks,tlie water is quickly discharged there- VGironi. 'The :discharge Vpipe -9 fis `*preferably connected `with the .clean-out pipe of the iboiler, as flieifeinbefore mentioned, -the fre- =quent passage fof the-:successive charges of,

Awaterthrouglisuch pipeinto the boiler-tending to fkeepY-thexsame -free fromisediineiiteof any kind. Y Y

Vlieii u boiler fis 'used' in Vconnection 'with a system of heat iadiat-oi'sthe pressure of the `steam i'sfgreatly reduced before entering the radiators, and it iszthis reduced pressure,

me f f exerted uponthe ywater after condensation,

:that foreesithe Vsaine intorthetanks. The water still retains its heat, so that as itis returnedlto the Yboiler there iis no noticeable `change -in :the temperature of the water tlierein. V

f fits above. stated,

n .it y.is desiredntofuse the device with cold Vwatenthis .can befdone by substituting a compressed air or other pressure for that of the condensing system.

The invention can also be adapted for use in connection with a water supply system, by discharging from the tanks l and 2 into a common chamber, and controlling the outlet therefrom with float or other valves.

The tank mechanism is simple and efficient, and contains no bearings or other parts which are liable to wear or injury. The cords which support the weights are preferably formed of piano wire, which possesses recognized durable qualities.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a device of the class described, a steam control mechanism, comprising a casing' having an inlet and a pair of spaced outlets; a double-headed piston slidable in said casing, provided in its ends with recesses communicating in one direction with the body of said casing and in the. other direction with the ends thereof; valves in said recesses adapted to alternately open the openings into the ends of said casing; means for alternately opening the outlets to said casing; valve-controlled outlets in the ends el" said casings; and means on the outside ot said casing for alternately opening said last-named Valve controlled outlets.

2. In a device of the class described, a steam control mechanism comprising a cylindrical casing having an inlet and a pair of spaced outlets; a pair of hollow piston heads slidable in opposite ends of said casing, and united by a hollow rod, the space in said piston-heads coinmunicating` in one direction with the body ot' said casing, and in the other direction with the ends thereof; valves in said piston-heads united by a stein slidable in said rod, and provided with extensions adapted to engage the ends of said casing, to cause said valves to alternately open and close the openings between said pistons and the ends of said casing; valvecontrolled vents in the ends of said casing, normally closed; means mounted on said casing for alternately opening and closing said vents; and means movable with said piston rod for alternately opening and closing said outlets.

3. In a device of the class described, a steam control mechanism embodying a cylindrical casing having an inlet and pair of spaced outlets; a pair of pistons slidable in the ends of said casing, united bya hollow rod, said pistons having central recesses communicating in one direction with the body of said casing, and opening at their ends into the ends of said casing; a pair of valves in said recesses united by a stem slidable in said rod, and adapted to alternately open and close the openings in the ends of said pistons; and extensions on said valves, having passages furnishing a means of communication between said recesses and the end of the casing when the valves are in an open position, and closed when the valves are in a closed position, said extensions being capable of engagement with the ends of said casing to cause a shitting of the positions of said valves.

t. In a device of the class describedba cylindrical casing having an inlet and pair of spaced outlets; a pair of hollow pistonheads slidable in the ends of said casing, united by a hollow piston-rod, and in communication with the body of the casing; and a pair of valves in said piston-heads united by a stem slidable in said piston-rod, and provided with channels oi conimunication between the interior ot said piston- `heads and the ends of the casing, said channels bcing alternately opened and closed by the movement et said valves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN R. SWTANSON. 

